~ an irreverent look at UK politics

Jo Cox MP’s last published words on immigration and Brexit written just days before her murder

Brexit is not the answer to UK immigration concerns

by Jo Cox MP

With many voters still making up their minds about a decision that will shape the future of our country, Oxford University’s Migration Observatory offered a stark warning that despite offering the world the Leave campaign cannot guarantee what would happen to migration if we left.

Most voters recognise that our country has reaped many benefits from immigration, from the brilliant doctors in our NHS to the skilled workers helping our economy to grow. Yet across the country people face everyday worries about job security, school places and GP appointments.

In the last two weeks of the campaign voters should know that despite these legitimate concerns, Brexit is not the answer. Here’s why:

First, Brexit doesn’t guarantee that migration will come down. In fact, a more liberal approach to non-EU immigration – as advocated by the Leave camp – could actually see it increase.

Australia – whose points-based system is so admired by Outers – has twice as many migrants per person than we do. The whole purpose of their system is to allow businesses to control who comes into their country. For us this would lead to an increase in cheap labour, bringing down wages and doing nothing to ease voter concerns about insecure employment.

Voters also need to know that the free movement of EU citizens to Britain will not automatically stop if we left. The only way to do that is to leave the single market – an act of economic self-destruction that would be catastrophic for businesses and jobs across the country.

Second, we can do far more to deal with the pressures caused by migration from inside the EU. Labour has long pushed for an end to the payment of benefits to people who don’t live permanently in this country, and for a major extension of the time EU migrants have to wait before being able to claim benefits – a commitment secured by the Prime Minister as part of the renegotiation deal.

We can also help communities facing the greatest pressure from migration. Since 2001 EU migrants have contributed £20 billion more to our economy than they’ve taken out in benefits. This money must go quickly to areas where migrants are living, to fund schools and health services.

This will ensure that people come to this country knowing they need to play by the rules and work hard, and will reassure Brits that we have a fair, under control system that works for everyone.

And finally, the overall benefits of EU membership are massive. From businesses in Yorkshire to the President of the United States – and pretty much everyone in between – there is now an unprecedented consensus that leaving the EU would hurt our economy and hit our pockets.

We cannot allow voters to fall for the spin that a vote to leave is the only way to deal with concerns about immigration. We can do far more to address both the level and impact of immigration while remaining in the EU. I very rarely agree with the Prime Minister but on this he’s right: we are stronger, safer and better off in.

This article was published on the PoliticsHome.com website by Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, just 3 days before she was murdered by a far-right terrorist.

Those that wont to leave the EU do not really understand how migration actually even works in the world

Most countries operate on the USA system and not the Australian system

Those for brexit keep mentioning the Australian system which is floored the USA system is much more transparent and you know from the off on if they will accept you

The EU should also be aligning themselves to USA system in which you may work in another country subject for that vacancy in which your applying for cannot be filled at a local level

Also you need to provide proof of sufficient funds and on how you will house yourself and that you will receive no benefits whatsoever

Most countries operate in the world as i say on the USA system as it is the fairest of any system

The EU system is however not a fair system as the EU countries are not equal in how each country pays benefits to immigrants or housing or indeed free health which is hit and mis

I believe to put this migration question to bed once and for all is that the EU adopts the USA system in that you can only migrate elsewhere where their is need and that at all times you stand on your own 2 feet

i do not know of any other country that operates outside of the USA system other then Australia and although it is similar to the USA system (the points system) it is still floored mainly because Australia has a very low population for it’s size whereas the USA has a massive population given it’s size

I will vote leave because I believe in democracy, something that the major parties obviously don’t as they have decided that the citizens of Batley and Spen should have no choice in what party their next MP represents, and in anycase would make little difference to policy.
Jo states that the incoming skilled labour as been good for the economy and quotes a figure but doesn’t give both figures costs and income, only an estimate.
the idea that we can make changes better from within the EU is laughable we are struggling to change the minds of the Westminster elite, how on earth will we change those of the elites from another 27, soon to be 29, countries.
Our economic performance we are told, at worse will grow at less than 5% of what it grows at in, but as it’s growing at such a low rate at the moment, in the EU, less than 2% last time I looked this means in real terms it will grow at less than 0.01 of a percent less. And only the brexit camp spins?
vote leave, believe in an independant UK, believe in democracy.

Once again Pride twists the truth. Jo was murdered by a deranged, mentally unstable man who had been failed by the failure of the mental health care regime. But don’t let truth get in the way of an anti brexit political statement.

Was a little concerned that using Jo’s words may appear to be taking advantage of the situation; but Jo was campaigning to stay in the EU, it’s quite probable that she would approve of you posting her thoughts on the matter.
There’s a lot wrong with the EU but leaving isn’t the answer, the only way to change it is from inside. Iceland, Norway & Switzerland & Iceland are not in the EU but as part of trade agreements have all sign up to the EU open borders policy, including the Schengen agreement. Because the UK is an EU member, we have been able to opt out of Schengen. I’ve spent 25 years driving HGVs & buses across Europe, including a year working in Germany as a coach driver. The only country I’ve ever had any problem getting into was the UK, and I’m British. While I worked in Germany I drove tourist buses from Germany to the UK and on several occasions, I actually had to put passengers, from outside the EU, off the coach and leave them in Calais; because the travel company I worked for, hadn’t bothered to tell them that the UK hadn’t signed up to Schengen and they wouldn’t be allowed into Britain,

The main point that everyone one is missing is that the brexit people assume everything about taking back control of immigration along with more money for this that and the other which is complete nonsense

every word they utter is complete fiction why ? they are not running this country and it will be until 2020 to see how their views are at that time and if the public will put into goverment a UKIP political party

as it stands at this time a miracle would have to happen but until then all of their views are just circumstantial and could never be accountable under any circumstances

all they have given so far to the public is wish list of what they stand for and what they hope to achieve

at the end of the day in or out of the EU only a prime minister of honesty and integrity can restore sovereignty and democracy along with justice as there are many countries in the world who abuse their sovereignty and kill their citizens

Never be fooled by what your told you need to look deep into how your own individual viewpoint may influence those around you and for the good of others

jo cox was such a person who although unknown was very gifted and had been asked to undertake roles in life of which she cared about and along that journey moved up into a position to run as a mp and won

It’s a pity her friends that have spoken so highly of her now did not get her to run as the labour leader as i believe she would have walked it as she was very popular with the conservatives and indeed all mp’s that knew her

no what happened the labour mp’s selfishly just looked out for themselves as if to say i wont to be the leader instead of reaching out to jo the natural choice of leader who had always put others first